U.S. women draw curtain on dramatic year in soccer

SOCCERWomen draw curtain on dramatic yearU.S. plays out its schedule after World Cup debacle

Chronicle News Services

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, October 17, 2007

PORTLAND, ORE. — A tumultuous season is almost over for the U.S. women's soccer team.

The United States, upset as the favorite in the World Cup amid a goalie controversy, will play Mexico Wednesday at PGE Park.

It is the second of three season-ending exhibition games with Mexico, with the final match Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.

The United States won the opener 5-1 in St. Louis on Saturday, the first time the squad played since losing 4-0 to Brazil in the World Cup semifinals.

"It's been an emotional past couple of weeks," said forward Abby Wambach, who had two goals against Mexico in the opening game. "It was disappointing not to have won the World Cup, but you have to pick up your head and come back because this is why you do it."

The World Cup was where the tumult began. Coach Greg Ryan went with veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry in the game against Brazil — even though Hope Solo had allowed only two goals in four World Cup games and had a shutout streak of nearly 300 minutes.

Solo blasted the coach, saying, "It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that."

Solo also said she could have made the saves that Scurry did not.

Solo was dismissed from the team. She rejoined the roster before the game in St. Louis, although she watched from the bench in street clothes — which she is expected to do tonight in Portland.

In other news

• Beckham improves — David Beckham trained with the Los Angeles Galaxy for the fourth time in two weeks, but his status for this week's game against New York is uncertain.

The midfielder performed drills, participated in a scrimmage and stayed afterward with eight teammates to practice shooting.